Dog poo bags

Sam Warburton made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council

The request was successful.

From: Sam Warburton

Dear Wellington City Council

Happy International Right To Know Day!

I'm a Research Fellow and economist at the New Zealand Initiative.

We often critique (negatively) government policies but, for a change, I'd like to write something positive. In this case, about the Council's installation of bag dispensers at public places. It's also a good example for illustrating a couple of economic principles.

To help with my piece, I'd like a bit of information on the cost of the dispensers and the bags. Can you provide me with a estimates of:
- the cost of the dispensers themselves (the dispensers and their installation)
- the cost of the bags that fill the dispensers
- how many bags fill a dispenser
- how frequently the bags have to be replenished.

A rough estimate is fine. One locality - such as the Botanic Gardens - would be ideal to be more illustrative and easier to analyse, but city wide is fine if that's all you have

Yours faithfully

Sam Warburton
Research Fellow
The New Zealand Initiative

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From: BUS: IRO
Wellington City Council

Thank you for your email, sent to the Issues Resolution Office at Wellington City Council.

This email address is monitored throughout the day, and emails are actioned on a priority basis. Where required, you will be contacted in due course.

We appreciate your patience.

Wellington City Council Issues Resolution Office.

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From: BUS: IRO
Wellington City Council

Hi Sam

Thank you for your request and happy international right to know to you too!

I have contacted the Manager of Parks Sports and Recreation to ask who is best to work with you on this request.
I will be in touch once I hear back.

Kind regards
Sarah

Sarah Pearson-Coats
Team Leader Complaints & Information Assurance | Wellington City Council
P +6448038684 | M +64275959300
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | |

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

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From: Sam Warburton

Thanks Sarah

It'd be great to know also if the funding comes from dog registration fees or from other, general revenue.

Sam

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From: BUS: IRO
Wellington City Council

Hi Sam

I have added that question to your request for consideration by Parks Sport and Recreation.

Kind regards
Sarah

Sarah Pearson-Coats
Team Leader Complaints & Information Assurance | Wellington City Council
P +6448038684 | M +64275959300
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | |

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

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From: Julie Sleep
Wellington City Council

Dear Sam

First of all - my apologies for how long this has taken to get to you. I thought I had responded to the request for Information but it appears I didn't.

1. The cost of the dispensers themselves (the dispensers and their installation)
Supply & install a 1000 bag dispenser is $1141.95 (incl gst)
Supply & install a standard parks bin is $1300.00 (incl gst)
We won't install a bag dispenser unless there is also a bin close by to dispose of the waste. That means that sometimes we need to install a bin in conjunction with a dispenser.

2. The cost of the bags that fill the dispensers
A carton of bags is $331.20 (gst incl). The carton contains 3 rolls of 1000 bags.
In 2016/2017 we spent $2,649.60 on bags for the dispensers. However we are installing new dispensers this year so this is expected to increase.

3. How many bags fill a dispenser
Each refill roll has 1000 bags

4. How frequently the bags have to be replenished.
This depends mainly on location and weather.
Lyall Bay off leash exercise area (one of the most popular exercise areas) needs to be refilled weekly.
Other dispensers need filling once or twice a month - but this can increase during the summer months.
We don't put the dispensers in low use areas we want to spend the money where it's going to have a good effect.

5. Whether the funding for the bags comes from dog registration fees or from other, general revenue.
Dog registration and related services are funded from 60% user fees, 40% rates

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of this.

Regards
Julie

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From: Sam Warburton

Outstanding, thanks Julie!

Awesome initiative, well implemented. Hope to find some time to write about this before the end of the year.

Sam

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